Integrated Child Development Scheme

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The first few years of a child's life are important for healthy growth, learning and overall development. To provide children and mothers with essential nutrition, healthcare and early childhood support, the Government of India launched the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) on 2 October 1975. Over the years, the programme has been expanded and restructured. Today, the Anganwadi Services that were earlier associated with ICDS are delivered under Mission Saksham Anganwadi & POSHAN 2.0. The programme covers children, pregnant women, lactating mothers and eligible adolescent girls and provides six key services: supplementary nutrition, preschool education, nutrition and health education, immunization, health check-ups and referral services.

The present framework is much broader than simply providing food at Anganwadi Centres. Children aged 6 months to 6 years can receive supplementary nutrition, while children in the preschool age group receive Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and other early-learning support. Pregnant women and lactating mothers receive nutrition and health-related services, including supplementary nutrition and counselling. Adolescent girls aged 14–18 years are covered under the applicable Scheme for Adolescent Girls component in Aspirational Districts and the North-Eastern Region. These services are mainly delivered through the extensive network of Anganwadi Centres across the country.

Mission Saksham Anganwadi & POSHAN 2.0 is administered by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, while States and Union Territories are responsible for implementation on the ground. Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers play an important role in registering beneficiaries and delivering services at the local level. The official Ministry of Women and Child Development website provides the latest information, guidelines and updates relating to the programme.

An important point for beneficiaries is that Anganwadi Services are not limited to a particular caste, religion or income group. Eligible beneficiaries can access the applicable services on demand after registering at the nearest Anganwadi Centre. Aadhaar is used for beneficiary identification, but a child's own Aadhaar is not mandatory for registration. The Poshan Tracker is used by the Anganwadi system to maintain digital beneficiary records and monitor services such as nutrition support, child growth, preschool activities and Take-Home Ration.

People searching for an "ICDS Apply Online" form should also know that there is generally no separate central online application form for beneficiaries. Registration is normally done through the nearest Anganwadi Centre with the help of the Anganwadi Worker. State and Union Territory administrations may have additional procedures or digital facilities, but the local Anganwadi Centre remains the main point for accessing services. Beneficiaries who need assistance with POSHAN-related services or grievances can also use the Government's 1515 helpline.

The current programme also focuses on improving the quality of Anganwadi Centres through Saksham Anganwadi, strengthening early childhood learning through Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi, and using digital technology through the Poshan Tracker. Therefore, although many people still search for information under the name ICDS Scheme, the current delivery framework is the Anganwadi Services under Mission Saksham Anganwadi & POSHAN 2.0.

Families and women looking for related support can also explore the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), which provides maternity-related financial assistance to eligible women. For school-going children, the PM POSHAN Scheme provides hot cooked meals to eligible students in Government and Government-aided schools. These programmes cover different aspects of maternal, child and nutritional support and may be useful alongside Anganwadi Services.

Scheme Benefits

The scheme brings nutrition, healthcare and early learning support together through Anganwadi Centres. Eligible beneficiaries can receive the following important services:

• Supplementary nutrition for children aged 6 months to 6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
• Take-Home Ration for eligible children aged 6 months to 3 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
• Hot Cooked Meals and morning snacks for eligible children aged 3 to 6 years at Anganwadi Centres.
• Preschool education and Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) to support children's learning and development.
• Early stimulation and support for parents and caregivers to promote healthy development in young children.
• Nutrition and health education for women and caregivers, including guidance on child feeding, nutrition and healthcare.
• Support for immunization of eligible children and women through coordination with health services.
• Health check-ups to identify health or nutrition-related concerns at an early stage.
• Referral support for beneficiaries who need further medical examination or treatment.
• Regular growth monitoring of children to track their health and nutritional status.
• Nutrition and related support for eligible adolescent girls aged 14 to 18 years in Aspirational Districts and the North-Eastern Region.
• Better learning facilities at upgraded Saksham Anganwadi Centres, including learning materials and child-friendly resources.
• Digital monitoring of beneficiary services, child growth, ECCE activities and Take-Home Ration through the Poshan Tracker.
• Home-based counselling and visits to guide families on maternal nutrition, child feeding, early stimulation and childcare.

Together, these services help support a child's nutrition, health and early learning while also providing important nutrition and health support to mothers and other eligible beneficiaries.

Six Services Provided Through Anganwadi Centres

Anganwadi Centres provide six core services under the ICDS/Anganwadi Services framework. These services bring together nutrition, health care and early childhood development support for eligible beneficiaries.

The last three health-related services are delivered in coordination with the public health system, while Anganwadi Workers and Helpers play an important role in connecting beneficiaries with these services at the local level.

Eligibility Requirements

The scheme is designed to provide essential nutrition, health and early childhood development services to eligible beneficiaries through Anganwadi Centres. The main eligibility requirements are:

• Children from birth up to 6 years of age can receive the applicable Anganwadi Services.
• Children aged 6 months to 6 years are eligible for supplementary nutrition support.
• Children aged 3 to 6 years can receive preschool education and related ECCE services at Anganwadi Centres.
• Pregnant women are eligible for nutrition, health and related support through Anganwadi Services.
• Lactating mothers are eligible for applicable nutrition and health services.
• Adolescent girls aged 14 to 18 years are covered under the applicable component in Aspirational Districts and the North-Eastern Region.
• Eligible beneficiaries can access the services irrespective of caste, religion or income, as the programme is open to eligible beneficiaries on demand.
• Beneficiaries need to register at the nearest Anganwadi Centre to access the applicable services.
• Aadhaar is used for beneficiary identification, but a child's own Aadhaar is not mandatory for registration.
• Temporary residents can also register for services, while beneficiary records can be transferred when families migrate through the Poshan Tracker system.

Eligibility and service coverage may vary according to the beneficiary's age and category. Beneficiaries should contact their nearest Anganwadi Worker for registration and information about the services available to them.

Required Documents

Registration for Anganwadi Services is generally completed through the nearest Anganwadi Centre. Beneficiaries should keep the following documents or details available for identification and registration:

• Aadhaar card or Aadhaar details of the beneficiary for identification.
• For children, the mother's or parent/guardian's Aadhaar details may be used; the child's own Aadhaar is not mandatory.
• Mother and Child Protection (MCP) Card, where available.
• Birth certificate or other age-related proof, where required for establishing the child's age.
• Mobile number, where available, for registration and communication.

The exact documents or details required may vary depending on the beneficiary category and local implementation. It is advisable to contact the nearest Anganwadi Worker before registration to confirm what needs to be provided.

Steps to Apply

Getting Anganwadi Services does not usually involve filling out a separate central online application form. The registration is handled locally so that beneficiaries can connect directly with the Anganwadi Centre serving their area. The process is simple:

• Find the Anganwadi Centre that serves your locality and contact the Anganwadi Worker (AWW) or Anganwadi Helper.
• Tell the Anganwadi Worker which service you need, such as supplementary nutrition, preschool education, health support or maternal nutrition services.
• Provide the required beneficiary details and Aadhaar information for identification. For a child, the child's own Aadhaar is not mandatory.
• Keep supporting details such as the child's birth information or MCP Card available if they are needed during registration.
• The Anganwadi Worker records the beneficiary's details through the applicable Anganwadi registration and Poshan Tracker process.
• Once registered, the beneficiary can receive the applicable services through the Anganwadi Centre according to their age and category.
• If the family moves to another location, inform the Anganwadi Worker so that the beneficiary record can be updated or transferred through the Poshan Tracker system, where applicable.

There is no need to search for an "ICDS Apply Online" form on a central website. The current system is primarily based on registration through the nearest Anganwadi Centre, while Poshan Tracker is used by the Anganwadi system for digital beneficiary records and service monitoring. For help with POSHAN-related services or grievances, beneficiaries can use the Government helpline at 1515.

ICDS Scheme vs POSHAN 2.0

Many people still search for the ICDS Scheme when looking for Anganwadi services. The programme has not simply disappeared; its service delivery framework has been revised and brought under Mission Saksham Anganwadi & POSHAN 2.0. The table below explains the difference in simple terms.

In simple terms, ICDS is the historical name of the programme launched in 1975, while Anganwadi Services now operate under the broader Mission Saksham Anganwadi & POSHAN 2.0 framework. Therefore, beneficiaries searching for ICDS services today should approach their nearest Anganwadi Centre and refer to the current POSHAN 2.0 framework for updated information.

Relevant Links

• Ministry of Women and Child Development
• Mission Saksham Anganwadi & POSHAN 2.0
• Mission Saksham Anganwadi & POSHAN 2.0 Scheme Guidelines
• POSHAN Tracker
• Citizen's Charter – Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0

Contact Information

Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India

• Phone: 011-26773706
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi – 110001

For POSHAN 2.0 support, the Ministry also lists the toll-free helpline number 1515. For scheme-specific matters, beneficiaries can also approach their nearest Anganwadi Centre or the concerned State/UT department.